Collapsible hand truck



Dec. 6, 1949 w, J, ALEXANDER 2,490,189

COLLAPS IBLE HAND TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001'.. 24, 1947 Dec. 6, 1949 w. J. ALEXANDER COLLAPSIBLE HAND TRUCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 0011. 24, 1947 Patented Dec. 6, 1 949 UNITED STATES PATENT QF'FICE ,2,490,189 eerrersrw frese rever.. William J. Alexander, Qakland, Gialli'. eeereeree. Deere er 194er in vereis 10 Claims. i

The present invention pertains to hand trucks, and more particularly 'to' hand tru'iks capable of being collapsed for storage in a comparatively smallv space when not in se,

An object of the invention is to provide an improved articulated v hand trck whose parts can be rigidly correlated with respect to each other when the device is to be used, and which can be easily folded into a compact"rr ass when not in use.

Another object of the invention is to provide imprevee. leek er leren eieveee fer maintaining. the component parts of an articulated hand truck in rigid yassembled relation when the truck is to be used.

Yet another object of the invention is to pro- 'vide an articnlated hand truclg which can be co1- lapsed into a compact easily portable'mass.

A further object of the invention is to provide an articulated hand trncl; whose component parts are telescopically arranged to enable them to be positioned in rigid, moti'lally snpportable relation to one another or to be positioned in such manner as to permit their folding adjacent one another into a compact mass.

Several forms which the invention may assume are exemplified in the following description and illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of one embodiment of the invention. i l n Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the collapsible hand truck disclosed in Fig. 1. v l' Y Fig. 3 is a longitudinal fragmentary section, on an enlarged scale, taken along the line 3-3 on Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale taken along the line 4-4 onl Fig. 1. m

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary' section taken along the line 5 5 on Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation o f the hand truck in collapsed and folded condition, v

Fig. -7 is a side elevation of the hand truck in collapsed and folded condition.

Fig. 8 is an isometric projection of a second form' of collapsible hand trulg embodying the'in-4 vention, as seen primarily from the rear thereof.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section through the upper portion of the hand truck disclosed in Fig. 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section taken along the line Illl0 on Fig. 9.

Fig. -1-1 is an isometric projection of the hand trnck disclosed in Fig. 8 -ln folded condition.

In the form of the'invention'disclod' Figs. 1 to f7, inclusive. the hand truck is made of a marries peripherie are. sbseeneeiiy; meer.

The .Se-retiene l0 ere ne@ Se-eured. te erre another. bur instead ere @neuerer erreneeethe degree' 0f 'Seierefiee e-etvlreentrrem beine limited by relef tively ehert. elieirre (.8 'eeeerirre' edl'eeenr Seeeifee together by eene .attachee te' ehe lower eene ve.`r e ,.me.rrr.eer I3. ef erre .Section end to the upper trenes/erre member 'er .ereee member l2 ef the Heart asiieeerrieeerien# 'einde l? er the iside members H 0f edieeerrr. sections 'are beveled opposite'directions to form relief portions' enabling the sections to be folded ueerr erre errerher- 'The beveled portiers 9 ere alternately dispersed et 1Hee '.frerrr .and reer er the hand track frame in order that the sections Il) may be folded upon one another. For example, as seen in 1 and g, the forward portions of the uppermost section and the adjacent intermedateseltion -are beveled, the rear portions of the adjaeentintermediate sections are beveled and 'the rare/ard Per'irrs efth'e'lewer intermedie@ Seetiee eee .lererrrreereeererr ere beveledee eis to vpermit tofold one another. How'- ever, .i3/ heni they are extended their adjacent ends I9a` abnt one another such ends 19a are 'sub'- ste-nary ,at rectangles' to' che @as ,of the erde members l', r'ederte inerrre elle rieid eupeert 0f .ene member neen the erher- Trie Slee Premiere l! ef each Serbien il! ere generally 11 141er in ebene .te .enable there reelle.- 'ebiy re'eeivl lie'irre'" .rrerrlrbere fr0? whieh' are adapted te' errer. eerese .eeeeent erde member? or to be disposed within a side member of leach Seeierlr, as.' "deeired- 'eeelent reri 'membe 20 are eef; "eeiee te 'erre eeerher threuerr theme.- diemef elink" il p irrred 'there're the br'se'i'ee mexnberxs 2 and vintermediate'link 'connections 2`l extending" completely" throughwall Ao'f the' menrgerg I VTwe qliowern'i'o'slt bridging 'in'enipe on calo 'side of hefland truelt'ispr'ovided with a pin 2 'adpted'to 'irio'v within'a 'J type' f'slt 23 formed in the side member II of the lowermost section. The slots 23 on each side of the hand truck are oppositely disposed and face toward one another, for a purpose to be described below.

The uppermost bridging member 20 projects from the uppermost sectional frame I and has a curved handle 24, which is adapted to be grasped by the operator in transporting articles on the hand truck, and also in effecting the locking of the sections I0 to one another.

The adjacent ends 25 ofthe bridging members are curved or beveled in the same directions as the adjoining bevels I9 on the tubular side members II; that is, the bridging members adjacent the forward beveled portions I9 have their ends curved or beveled toward the front of the truck, while the adjacent ends 25 of the bridging member near the side members II beveled in a rearward direction are curved or beveled in a rearward direction.

The bridging members 20 are substantially equal in length to the length of the side members I'I. Accordingly, when the entire articulated bridging structure 20 is shifted within the tubular Side members, each bridging member 20 may be disposed across the joint I3, I9a between adjacent tubular side members I I or may be disposed substantially entirely within a side member II. When arranged in the first-mentioned fashion, the bridging member 20 serves to lock the side members I! to one another to form a rigid truck frame structure; while, when disposed in the second-mentioned position, the sectional members II, 20 may be folded upon one another.

When the handle members are disposed in their full line position, as seen in Figs. 1 and 2, facing to the rear, each pin 22 is disposed in the horizontal lower leg of the slot 23, wherein each bridging member 20 is located partly in one side member II and partly in the adjacent side member, in order to bridge the joints I9, I9a between the frame sections l0. The pins 22, accordingly, lock the telescopic bridging mechanism 2u in place and prevent collapse of the side members II, holding the entire frame structure in rigid fashion, with the parts incapable of moving relatively to one another. The hand truck may then be manipulated in the same manner as if it were an integral structure, with a load placed upon or removed from the apron I4 and transported to and from various locations.

4When it is desired to fold the hand truck, the load, of course, is rst removed from the apron and the handles 24 4swunginwardly about the axes of the side members II toward the dotted line positions disclosed in Fig. l, which will place the lock pins 22 in the longitudinal legs of the slots 23 and allow the handle members to be elevated with respect to the side members. When the pins 22 are disposed in the uppermost portion ofthe slot 23, the bridging members 20 will have been completely removed from their bridging relation across the joints I9, I9a between adjacent side members I I and will be located substantially entirely within the confines of the respective side members II of the sectional frame, whereupon the sections may be folded upon one another, in the manner illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7, resting upon the apron I4. To obtain such disposition of the parts, the joint between the lowermost and next adjacent sectional frame has its beveled portions I9 facing forwardly, the next joint facing rearwardly, and the uppermost joint facing forwardly. It is evident that the -frame sections maybe folded upon one another, .asillustrated in Fig. 7, with the handle members 24 disposed inwardly and facing toward one another. When in the folded position, the links 2| merely extend substantially parallel to the apron I4, but do not interfere at all with the folding action.

The flexible tie members or chains I8 between adjacent cross members I2, I3 of adjacent sections ID hold the parts generally in their relative location with respect to one another, allowing the sections to be folded upon one another, but at the same time 'permitting them to be distended and placed in longitudinal alignment prior to depression of the handles 24 and associated bridging members 20 to locate the latter across the side member joints I9, I9a, which will lock the side members I I to one another.

In the form of invention disclosed in Figs. 8 to 1l, inclusive, the apron I4 is secured to the side members 26 of the lowermost section, with the axle brackets I5 and wheels I1 disposed at the rear of such side members, in the same general fashion as described in connection with the other embodiment of the invention. In the form of invention disclosed in Figs. 8 through l1, however, transverse or cross members rigidly secured The side members 26 of each section I0 are U-shaped in cross section with their open sides a centrally disposed upper socket 3D adapted to receive the upper cylindrical portion 3| of the bridge operating device. The lower portion 32 of the bridge operating device may be of rectangular or square cross section, slidably ntting within a companion socket 33v parallel to the lowermost side members 26 and welded or otherwise suitably secured to the apron I4.

The bridging mechanism includes the side bridging members 21 slidable withinthe channelshaped side members 26, each of such bridging members having a length substantially equal to the length of the associated side member. The bridging members 21 on each side are secured together for joint movement by means of a cross member 34 attached to the side bridging me-m-` bers and also to a central operating member 35 whose ends may be placed in transverse alignmentwith the ends of the side members 26. The

handle portion 36 of the operating device, which also functions as a handle for the hand truck,

has its lower end 36a swiveled within the upper member sections I0 are secured to one anotherj by means of hinges 31 attached to the vforward portions. The intermediate two side members 26 are hinged to each other by means of hinges 38 secured to their rearward portions, while the upper intermediate and topmost s ide members 2B are suitably securedto one another by hinges 39 welded to their forward portions. Similarly', z"

the operating member sections 3 5 are secured to one anotherby hinges Mlat their forward and tially rigid alignment. said Y bridging elements being slidable from such position across the joints to place`their points of pivotal' connectioiin transverse alignment with said joints'to allow said bridging-elements tol be folded with said sections on one another.

5. Afhand truck, including a plurality of frame sections joined together andhaving side membersfadapted to be arranged in substantial endwi'sefalignment, `the lowermost frame section having al forwardly extending -apro`n secured thereto and ground engaging Wheels rotatably supported on the rear of said lowermost section, i the frame section adjacent the lowermost section fore directions to 'dispose all "offsaid sections adjacent one another and over said apron, bridging elements pivotally connected to one another and slidably mounted' in said side members, saidu bridging4 elements being arrangedffor movement across the joints of .adjacent side members to hold them in substantially rigid alignment, said bridging elements being slidable -frorrijsuch positions across the joints to place their points of pivotal connection in transverse alignment with said joints to allow saidbridging elements to be folded with sai'd sections on one another.

6. A hand truck, including agplurality of frame sections joined together and having side members adapted .to be arrangedlin substantial endwise alignment, the frame section adjacent the lowermost frame section being. foldabl'e forwardly of said truck'with successive frame sections being foldable alternately with respect to one another in successive aft and fore directionsfinterconnected bridging' elements slidably mounted in said side members and adapted to be folded with respect to one another, and one or more' handles secured to said bridging lements for moving said elements across the joints ci'adjacent1 side members to hold them in substantially 'rigid alignment and also to move said 'elements from'such position acro'ssthf-joints to allow said bridging elements to be Afolded with said sections ononeanother.

1. A- hand truck, including a plurality of f rame sections joined together and each-`h`av'ing a pair or opposed side members adapted to be arranged in substantial endwise' alignment: with the side members'of an adjacent section,v intercnnected bridging elementsateacli side of said truck telescopically mounted in eachof said p airvoi aligned side members, and means secured to each of said interconnected bridging elements for positioning said elements across the joints of adjacent side members or for removing said elements from such position across the joints to allow said elements 'ing elements slidably mounted in said side members, and means for positioning said elements across the hinged vjoints of adjacent side members or for removing said elements from such position across the joints, comprising cross members secured to opposite bridging elements and a longi tudinally extending articulated operating member attached to said cross members.

9. A hand truck, including a plurality of pairs of opposed side members, adjacent pairs being hingedly secured to one another in such fashion that successive pairs of side members are foldable alternately with respect to one another in successive fore and aft directions to dispose said pairs of side members adjacent one another, bridging elements slidably mounted in said side members, an articulated longitudinally extending operating member secured to said bridging elements and adapted to be positioned with its points of articulation in transverse alignment with the hinged connections between said pairs of side members, wherein said bridging elements are removed from positions across the hinged joints oi adjacent side members, said operating member being movable to dispose said bridging elements across said hinged joints.

l0. A hand truck as defined in claim 9, including means for locking said operating member with respect to said side members to hold said bridging elements across said hinged joints of said side members.

WILLIAM J. ALEXANDER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record inthe 

